Six The Musical - Adrianne Langley Interview

In our latest "Lifting The Curtain" interview, West End star Adrianne Langley shares her journey from a five-year-old inspired by Mary Poppins to leading the cast of the global phenomenon Six the Musical as Catherine of Aragon.

Career Journey and Training

• Early Training: Adrianne trained at the London Studio Centre after completing a BTech at Northampton College [01:37]. Her love for performing began at age five, inspired by seeing Mary Poppins in London [02:14].
• Professional Path: Since graduating in 2020, she worked on cruise ships and in Germany before joining the original West End cast of Titanique [00:23].

Joining the Cast of Six

• The Audition: She initially didn't see herself as a "Queen" and thought she might be a "super swing." It wasn't until a few rounds into the Aragon auditions that she realized how much of herself she could bring to the role [03:19].
• Responsibility: Stepping into such an established show felt like a massive responsibility. She noted that the creative team was very collaborative, allowing her to create her own version of the character [04:17].
• The Cast: She highlights that most of the principal cast members have previously been alternates or swings, which creates a supportive environment for the current "SWALT team" (the swings/understudies) [07:02].

Preparation and Performance

• Physical Challenges: Adrianne discusses the unique difficulties of the show, such as singing while "dry and out of breath" because she doesn't get a water break before her big song [14:22], and adjusting to heavy costumes and in-ear monitors [13:52].
• Lessons from Titanique: Her previous role in Titanique taught her the importance of backing herself. She recalls advice from Steven Gino: "If you find it funny, they'll find it funny," which she now applies to her portrayal of Aragon's power [18:06].
• Historical Research: A self-proclaimed "nerd," she did a deep dive into the history of Catherine of Aragon to add depth to her performance beyond what is in the script [08:03].

Personal Reflection and Wellness

• Mental Health: She emphasises the need for kindness toward oneself, especially when dealing with the pressure of a massive fanbase and the "hole" of social media comparisons [10:45].
• Unwinding: To cope with the high energy of the show, she uses the gym, saunas, and "journaling in the dark" to find quiet and process her feelings [21:49].
• Inspiration: She stays inspired by thinking of her "younger self" and her three-year-old niece, reminding herself how far she has come from the days of audition rejections [24:25].

Watch the full interview here: Adrianne Langley - Six the Musical Interview